Relevant
Brant is working on a trendycool article for Relevant Magazine. I sent him a few additions:
Peterson's "The Message" has way too many clichés. We need more television like "The Greatest American Hero" and less "American I-Dull". The City of Orlando, which happens to have a large population of evangelical Christians, is one of most satiated, consumeristic, and therefore boring places on the planet. Rick Warren is not the problem; Rick Warren's imitators are the problem. The emerging church is like giving your Uncle BillyBob from Tennessee a bath and a haircut, calling it an "Extreme Makeover", and writing a book about the experience. Naming a magazine "Relevant" automatically makes it irrelevant to people who don't understand why being relevant has anything to do with following Jesus.
posted by Mike Bishop at 9:23 PM
9 Comments:
Sweet.
Okay, that picture freaked me out. I believe those are Moby's arms.
Another thing Relevant won't likely be saying: "Sufjan Stevens: a poor man's Wayne Watson."
Brant
Thanks, Mike, for almost causing my untimely death. I choked on a piece of cucumber when I saw that Relevant cover...very, very funny.
"Rick Warren is not the problem; Rick Warren's imitators are the problem."
Mike…jeepers...glad to hear that you don't consider Rick Warren a problem! I'm sure right now he's nervously wiping his brow and exhaling a sigh of relief as he adds the final point to his weekly sermon. Who else, pray tell, isn't a problem? I just absolutely need to know to make sure I keep to the straight and narrow path of purity and relevance.
So is this the new "sin" for your "revelevants" (or what ever you're calling yourselves this morning) - the Imitation of Rick Warren – “ THOU SHALT NOT IMITATE RICK” - gotta be right up there with stealing and murder!
And so the obvious question becomes "who do YOU imitate?" Or are you beyond influence - floating above the rest of us mere mortals in your rarified air of your unassailable originality?
Still Anonymous For Now
Anonymous,
Can I ask what you are trying to accomplish by your comments? Blogger sends any comments to this blog to my email, otherwise I wouldn't have seen it, neither will anyone else. You appear to be trying to provoke a certain response (maybe the angry, bitter, hateful person you think I am) and I simply will not oblige.
The quote above about Rick Warren's imitators was an exaggeration, in line with my friend Brant's ironic "article".
As far as influences go, there are many. Todd Hunter, Dallas Willard, Eugene Peterson, Gordon Cosby, Wimber, and recently Graham Cooke to name a few. All men who are worth imitating, and all have critiqued the church and worked for change for many years.
Again, if you would like to have a constructive conversation than I'm all ears. But if you insist on staying anonymous and making assumptions about what I'm writing or why I'm writing, then it is time for you to move on.
Graham Cooke! Bada Bing! My estimation of you has increased by several quantum levels! I think he's great too. But Mike...he belongs to a church that meets in a building... (Christian Life in Vacaville, CA) ...with chairs...in straight rows...and staff...and blue hairs carrying Scofields..and...perish the thought...budgets!
Never said you were angry of bitter, or resentful...but, then again...you have been that at times right? I have been for sure.
Most, if not all, of those men you mention critique the established Church from within the Church.
Why should I identify myself? What difference will that make?
My point is...what difference is there between the guy who takes a R.W. sermon and gives it on Sunday AM from one who hears Cooke's tape and is influenced by his unique prophetic insights as he prepares his sermon? Aren't we all standing on the shoulders of giants in one way or another?
Anonymous Still
Hint as to my identity...grandmother's maiden name was Bishop.
Reveling in Anonymity
Re. the bogus Relevant cover ...are the words "Why He Loves Jesus and Not the Church" for real? Or is that also a sarcasm?
Please don't tell me you guys believe that someone can love Jesus and not the Church.
That's a photoshopped cover. The real cover has Moby on it. I've never read the article inside...no idea what he means by that.
I'm interested in Graham Cooke because he's interested in transformation, both of individuals and of churches. He is vehemently opposed to running church like big business and CEO style leadership. Having a building and a budget doesn't make you a life-giving church any more than not having those things.
To answer your question about anger and bitterness...transition is always painful. I've been a Christian for a long time and have had to deal with my fair share of disappointments and frustration with both God and the church. Everyone has.
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